Car-coupling



(No Model.) I

R. A. RANDLETT & P. W. SMITH.

GAR COUPLING.

No. 415,334. Patented Nov. 19, 1889.

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INVENTORS. QQIQM' WITNESSES.

MML M UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

REUBEN A. RANDLETT AND FRANK \V. SMITH, OFTOPEKA, KANSAS.

CAR-COUPLING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 415,334, dated November19, 1889.

Serial No. 307,086. (No model.)

scription of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in theart to which it appertains to make and use the same.

Our invention relates to an improvement in car-couplings.

The object is to provide a safety-coupler which will not require theoperator to expose himself to injury between the cars to be coupled, andat the same. time to provide a coupling which shall be simple, durable,and effective, and which will act automatically.

\Vith these ends in view our invention consists in certain features ofconstruction and combinations of parts, as will be hereinafterdescribed, and pointed out in the claim.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 represents the end of the carwith the drawhead and coupler inposition thereon. Fig. 2 is a verticallongitudinal section showing the parts in position to coupleautomatically. Fig. 3 shows a modified form of draw-head.

A represents the end of a car; B, a pillow or abutment to receive theshock caused by the coming together of two cars, and C a draw-barsupported, as usual, to have a limited longitudinal movement. Thedraw-head on the outer end of the bar 0 is provided with a funnel-shapedopening 0, as is usual, to receive the end of an ordinary link when itis desired to couple a car fitted with such common device to a carhaving our improved coupling. From the front upper portion of thedraw-head a strong lug or hook D projects, the same being preferablyformed integral with the draw-head and having its outer face flushtherewith, while its inner face is cut under, as shown at (l, forming acurved seat for the reception of the bight of the coupling-loop.

The coupling-loop E is U-shaped, and is pivotally secured to thedraw-head, so as to rock freely up and down. The means which we preferto employ for this purpose consist of a strong bolt F, which extendslaterally through the draw-head and receives upon its ends the free endsof the loop E. The head f of the bolt serves to retain one end of theloop in position, while the other end may be secured in position by akey or pin f. To one side of the loop E a clip G is secured, to which isattached one end of a chain or other suitable flexible connection g, theother end of the chain being secured to an arm H, projecting laterallyfrom a cross-rod 71,, journaled to the end of the car and provided withhandles I-one at each side of the car-by means of which the rod may berocked, the arm H thereby swung, and the loop E lifted out of engagementwith the draw-head with which it is engaged.

To set the loop E in position to couple automatically, it is elevatedand allowed to swing back toward the end of the car until it is slightlypast the center, where it will remain until the shock of the approachingdraw-head causes itto drop forward into engagement with said head,thereby effecting a coupling of the cars.

In order to protect the draw-head and the mechanism connected therewithfrom injury, and at the same time to furnish a guide to assist thefalling loop into its seat, we provide a buffer K at the rear portion ofthe draw-head, which projects upwardly from a shoulder a formed on thedraw-bar slightly above the hooked lug D, into a position to abutagainst the pillow B when the drawhead is driven back, the outer face ofsaid buffer being inclined outwardly and downwardly and having a curvedrecess K serving to give the bight of the coupling-loop a movementtoward its seat.

It will be noticed that when the draw-bars are pressed in, in the act ofcoupling, the shoulder-a, of each draw-bar will contact with the pillowB, and will relieve the buffer K from undue strain, thus decreasing to aminimum the liability of breakage.

The coupling as thus constructed is well adapted to general use, admitsof the lateral swing of the ends of the cars without suffering any unduestrain, and is simple and durable.

Having thus fully described our invention, what we claim as new, anddesire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

rod journaled to the end of the car and pro- Vided with anoutwardly-extending arm which projects over the swinging loop, and afiexi- 15 ble connection between the end of the arm and the loop,substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof we have affixed our signatures in presence of twowitnesses.

REUBEN A. RANDLETT. FRANK XV. SMITH. itnesses:

J. M. GRIFFIN, J. C. DALE.

